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Itinerary for May 23 — May 28, 2013

Description: In the heart of historic Back Bay stands an equally legendary landmark. Built in 1927, The Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers is a member of Historic Hotels of America, and recipient of the Successful Meeting Pinnacle Award for delivering excellence in meetings. With an unmatched location, the hotel are adjacent to the Public Garden with its Swan Boats and the chic boutiques, art galleries and restaurants of the world-famous Newbury Street. Rich in history, the hotel offers the same luxury, hospitality expertise, service and splendor today that have attracted United States Presidents, international corporations, and celebrities in the past.

Smoking policy: NoSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Elevator: Yes

Additional nights before: Varies based on availabilityFor pre and post night reservation call Boston Park Plaza reservation agent Esther Lo at 617-457-2423 (Monday-Friday 10:30am-6pm EST) to book pre and/or post nights. Make sure to state your program number (this is a 4 or 5 digit number) and that you are with the Road Scholar group. A limited number of rooms are available at a Road Scholar group rate if booked 30 days prior to your program start date. For all other Hotel needs please call Road Scholar at 617-521-5373

Check in time: 3:00 PM

Day One: Thursday, May 23 - Registration/Welcome Dinner/Orientation

Arrive To: Registration and room check-in between 4:00-5:30 PM.

Dinner: Welcome dinner at 6:00PM

Evening: Orientation and welcome to Boston, led by the group leader at 7:30PM

Description: In the heart of historic Back Bay stands an equally legendary landmark. Built in 1927, The Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers is a member of Historic Hotels of America, and recipient of the Successful Meeting Pinnacle Award for delivering excellence in meetings. With an unmatched location, the hotel are adjacent to the Public Garden with its Swan Boats and the chic boutiques, art galleries and restaurants of the world-famous Newbury Street. Rich in history, the hotel offers the same luxury, hospitality expertise, service and splendor today that have attracted United States Presidents, international corporations, and celebrities in the past.

Smoking policy: NoSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Elevator: Yes

Additional nights before: Varies based on availabilityFor pre and post night reservation call Boston Park Plaza reservation agent Esther Lo at 617-457-2423 (Monday-Friday 10:30am-6pm EST) to book pre and/or post nights. Make sure to state your program number (this is a 4 or 5 digit number) and that you are with the Road Scholar group. A limited number of rooms are available at a Road Scholar group rate if booked 30 days prior to your program start date. For all other Hotel needs please call Road Scholar at 617-521-5373

Check in time: 3:00 PM

Day Two: Friday, May 24 - Boston Athenaeum/Behind the Scenes Tour of Sympho...

Boston Athenaeum/Behind the Scenes Tour of Symphony Hall/Lecture with a BSO Administrator/Instrument Demonstration with a Member of the Pops/Evening Boston Pops Concert

Note: Broadway and television star Megan Hilty joins the Pops for an unforgettable evening. After stints on Broadway in "Wicked," "9 to 5: The Musical," and "Gentleman Prefer Blondes," she is now one of TV's newest stars of the hit series, Smash. In addition to Megan Hilty, the Pops will perform some of Hollywood's greatest love songs.

Breakfast: Breakfast

Morning: Venture into Beacon Hill for either a tour of Boston's Athenaeum or the Massachusetts State House. The Boston Athenaem is one of the oldest private libraries in the country, it was founded in 1807 as a library, art repository, natural history museum, and laboratory. You will have the option to visit either place again on the final morning of the program.

Lunch: Lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon: Spend the afternoon at Boston's Symphony Hall. Enjoy a behind- the-scenes tour of Symphony Hall, and hear from an administrator about working for a world class orchesetra.

Dinner: Dinner at a local restaurant

Evening: Enjoy a Boston Pops performance before returning to the hotel.

Description: In the heart of historic Back Bay stands an equally legendary landmark. Built in 1927, The Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers is a member of Historic Hotels of America, and recipient of the Successful Meeting Pinnacle Award for delivering excellence in meetings. With an unmatched location, the hotel are adjacent to the Public Garden with its Swan Boats and the chic boutiques, art galleries and restaurants of the world-famous Newbury Street. Rich in history, the hotel offers the same luxury, hospitality expertise, service and splendor today that have attracted United States Presidents, international corporations, and celebrities in the past.

Smoking policy: NoSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Elevator: Yes

Additional nights before: Varies based on availabilityFor pre and post night reservation call Boston Park Plaza reservation agent Esther Lo at 617-457-2423 (Monday-Friday 10:30am-6pm EST) to book pre and/or post nights. Make sure to state your program number (this is a 4 or 5 digit number) and that you are with the Road Scholar group. A limited number of rooms are available at a Road Scholar group rate if booked 30 days prior to your program start date. For all other Hotel needs please call Road Scholar at 617-521-5373

Morning: Listen to a presentation about the life and presidency of JFK, Boston's local political hero by local historian and author Sheldon Stern. Then visit the JFK Library and Museum to explore the museum which portrays the life, leadership, and legacy of President Kennedy.

Lunch: Lunch at the JFK Museum Cafe.

Afternoon: Free Afternoon to explore Boston's Back Bay, or go with the Group Leader on an optional excursion to Copley Plaza and step inside Trinity Church to discover why the building is heralded as one of the finest examples of American, ecclesiastical architecture.

Description: In the heart of historic Back Bay stands an equally legendary landmark. Built in 1927, The Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers is a member of Historic Hotels of America, and recipient of the Successful Meeting Pinnacle Award for delivering excellence in meetings. With an unmatched location, the hotel are adjacent to the Public Garden with its Swan Boats and the chic boutiques, art galleries and restaurants of the world-famous Newbury Street. Rich in history, the hotel offers the same luxury, hospitality expertise, service and splendor today that have attracted United States Presidents, international corporations, and celebrities in the past.

Smoking policy: NoSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Elevator: Yes

Additional nights before: Varies based on availabilityFor pre and post night reservation call Boston Park Plaza reservation agent Esther Lo at 617-457-2423 (Monday-Friday 10:30am-6pm EST) to book pre and/or post nights. Make sure to state your program number (this is a 4 or 5 digit number) and that you are with the Road Scholar group. A limited number of rooms are available at a Road Scholar group rate if booked 30 days prior to your program start date. For all other Hotel needs please call Road Scholar at 617-521-5373

Note: In an effort to ensure the safety of all visitors to USS CONSTITUTION, additional measures have been implemented to the ship's security procedures. Visitors ages 18 and over wishing to embark USS CONSTITUTION may be subject to present a valid federal or state-issued photo ID at the ship's security entrance.

Breakfast: Breakfast

Morning: Enjoy a fully narrated cruise through the Charle's River Locks, and tour Boston's historic harbor. Learn about Boston's connection to the sea as you journey past the the Bunker Hill Monument and Charles town Naval Yard. Visit the USS Constitution before taking a water ferry back to the North End for lunch.

Lunch: Lunch in the North End.

Afternoon: Enjoy an escorted walk along Boston's Freedom Trail. Visit the Old North Church, Paul Revere's house, the Old State House, Faneuil Hall, Granary Burying Ground, the Old South Meeting House, and Boston Common.

Description: In the heart of historic Back Bay stands an equally legendary landmark. Built in 1927, The Boston Park Plaza Hotel & Towers is a member of Historic Hotels of America, and recipient of the Successful Meeting Pinnacle Award for delivering excellence in meetings. With an unmatched location, the hotel are adjacent to the Public Garden with its Swan Boats and the chic boutiques, art galleries and restaurants of the world-famous Newbury Street. Rich in history, the hotel offers the same luxury, hospitality expertise, service and splendor today that have attracted United States Presidents, international corporations, and celebrities in the past.

Smoking policy: NoSmoking policies vary by facility. During all group events and activities, smoking is prohibited.

Elevator: Yes

Additional nights before: Varies based on availabilityFor pre and post night reservation call Boston Park Plaza reservation agent Esther Lo at 617-457-2423 (Monday-Friday 10:30am-6pm EST) to book pre and/or post nights. Make sure to state your program number (this is a 4 or 5 digit number) and that you are with the Road Scholar group. A limited number of rooms are available at a Road Scholar group rate if booked 30 days prior to your program start date. For all other Hotel needs please call Road Scholar at 617-521-5373

Morning: Listen to a lecture by an expert on many art forms with a focus on the collections at the Gardner Museum and the MFA. Following the lecture, travel to the MFA. Use the knowledge you obtained from the morning's lecture to explore the museum's collections.

Lunch: Enjoy lunch at the Courtyard Cafe at the MFA.

Afternoon: Following lunch, travel to the Gardner Museum where you will explore the museum, including it's new wing, and get a walking presentation from an experienced docent.

Day Six: Tuesday, May 28 - Massachusetts State House/Program Departures

Breakfast: Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before you check out of your room.

Morning: Return to Beacon Hill for either a tour of Boston's Athenaeum or the Massachusetts State House. The Massachusetts State House, designed by Charles Bulfinch, the leading architect of his time, is a grand repository of history as well as an architectural treasure.

Lunch: Lunch on your own at a local restaurant. Meal vouchers will be provided.

Afternoon: Return to the hotel at your leisure to retrieve your luggage.

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Free Time Opportunities

Important information about your itinerary: Please know that while we do everything we can to finalize all aspects of our programs well in advance, there are logistics that occasionally must be altered. Our website will reflect the most recent information, and we are committed to providing you with final program details no later than eight weeks prior to the start of programs outside the U.S. and three weeks prior to the start of programs within the U.S. If you ever have questions about your program, please don't hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to assist you.

Need Help?

The latest in light, portable, easy-to-use QUIETVOX listening devices are available on Road Scholar programs.* Whether you are outdoors, in a crowd or in a museum environment where speaking loudly is discouraged, a listening device makes it feel like our experts are speaking clearly and directly to you. Hear for yourself on a Road Scholar adventure!

*Please note that due to the nature of some programs, the remote location or government regulations, listening devices may not be available. If you’d like to know for sure if your program will offer listening devices, just call and ask an Advisor!